Display device



1936- LE ROY L. TUTHILL 2,050,638

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Nov. 13, 1955 Snow 1m ZA /Earl. 72/77/444 V St M Patented Aug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to store fixtures, and more particularly has reference to an attractive rack for the display of merchandise.

It will, of course, be appreciated that the proper display of merchandise is an essential feature in all sales promotion. While there have been devices heretofore for the accomplishment of this objective, such devices have had serious limitations. In many instances these fixtures have been unattractive in appearance, expensive in manufacture, and difficult to assemble. Furthermore, these prior devices usually have not been capable of assembly into units of various designs.

To overcome the above disadvantages is one of the objects of my invention.

Another object of my invention is to provide a display fixture that is made up of a plurality of independent elements that may be readily assembled into a complete unit.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a display fixture which may be assembled to form units of various designs.

To accomplish the above and other objects which will more fully appear hereinafter, my invention in general comprehends a display shelf, or a plurality of such shelves, that are capable of being arranged in various relations to each other and to the floor or shelf which supports them.

In order to insure an adequate comprehension of my invention, I have shown in the accompanying-drawing one specific embodiment thereof, it being distinctly understood, however, that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of.my inventive concept.

In the drawing, in which corresponding numerals refer to the same parts f Fig. 1 is aside elevation of one embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line 3 -3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken alongthe line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a sectionalv view in detail of the clamping means and associated portions of the socket.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing in detail asupplementary bracket, and showing particularly the manner of securing the same to the shelf member.

Fig. 7 is illustrative of one, among many designs, that may be formed with my invention.

Fig. 1 shows one of each of the elements of my invention, and it will be apparent that various figures may be formed when there are several of each of these elements. In Fig. 1, the numeral l indicates a base member, which may be provided with rubber pads 2 in order to prevent scratching of the floor or shelf that supports 5 the display. As shown in the figures of the drawing, the upper surface of the base may be formed of inclined planes although it will, of course, be appreciated that a fiat surface may be employed in lieu thereof. This base, as well as the other 10 elements of the device, may be made of any desirable material, although I have found it preferable to use a stamped metal member. Furthermore, in order to enhance the attractiveness of the display, I prefer that some or all of the 15 elements be enameled or japanned.

Mounted upon the base I is a socket designated generally 3. This socket is similar to the socket provided for the shelf member, and a detailed discussion of the socket may best be postponed 20 until the description of the shelf socket. At this point, however, it should be pointed out that the. socket 3 may be considered as extending transversely of the base I, and also, as shown in Figs.

1 and 3, is located to the rear of thecenter of 25 the base member. Under most circumstances this arrangement is preferable, but it is to be understood that under certain conditions the direction the socket extends and its location upon the base member may be changed. 30.

A support member 4 is adapted to be seated in the socket 3 in a manner which will be apparent from the detailed description of the socket. The support 4 is preferably a metal rod of square cross section, but the material and shape of the 35 support may be changed, should circumstances demand it.

Mounted upon the support 4 is a display shelf 5 upon which the article to bedisplayed is arranged. As will be apparent theshelf 5 may 40 be arranged at various angles. If the shelf is angularly disposed, I provide brackets or cleats 6 to prevent any displayed article from sliding off the shelf. These cleats are essentially angle irons which extend the width of the shelf as 45 shown in Fig. 2, and aresecured to the shelf by means of ears 1 which are punched out of the base of the angle iron. These ears are adapted to fit into holes 8 which are formed in the shelf and which are so spaced as to receive the ears I. 50

means of a socket designated generally 9 and which, as heretofore stated, corresponds substantially to the socket 3 of the base member. However, it is to be noted that the socket 9 is located in substantially the longitudinal center of the shelf and extends lengthwise of the shelf. For a purpose which will be described hereinafter, a longitudinal slot II is provided in the shelf immediately above the socket.

Referring in more detail to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the socket 9 is formed from two spaced apart and substantially semi-circular members I2 and I 3 which are mounted perpendicularly to the shelf. The members I2 and R3 are provided with flanges l4 and I5 at their bases, and these flanges are secured to the shelf 5 by spot welding, riveting, or any other suitable means. The members I2 and I3 are provided with peripheral ears which are turned inwardly to form spaced flanges I6. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the respective flanges I6 of the members I2 and I3 are oppositely disposed and extend toward one another, but do not abut.

It will be observed in Fig. 3 that the flanges I6 are spaced about the peripheries of the members I2 and I3 at a distance that is substantially equal to the cross section of the support 4, and thus form an opening I1 whereby the support may be inserted between the members I2 and I3. Also, as particularly shown in Fig. 4, the members I2 and I3 are spaced apart a distance that is substantially equal to the cross section of the support 4. This spacing of the members I2 and I3 prevents any transverse twisting of the shelf 5 with respect to the support.

It, of course, will be apparent that means in addition to the opening I! are necessary to prevent longitudinal twisting of the shelf on the support. Such means I provide in the form of ears I8 which are punched in one of the semicircular members, I3, for instance. It will be observed that the ears I8 are located inwardly from the periphery of the member I3, and as best shown in Fig. 3 are so positioned that two of these ears will receive the support 4 therebetween, and so afford guides for the support in addition to the opening I! at the periphery. In assembling the device into a design such as Fig. 7, I prefer that the semi-circular member provided with the ears be placed at the rear so that the holes I9, resulting from the punching of ears I8, will not be visible from the front of the assembly.

As heretofore stated, the members I2 and I3 are so spaced that a substantially close fit is obtained between these members and the inserted support 4. However, in order to insure a tight locking of the support within the socket, I provide bolts 2| and winged nuts 22 located adjacent the periphery of the members I2 and I3. Inasmuch as the members I2 and I3 are fixed with respect to each other at only the shelf 5, the bolts 2| and nuts 22 permit the members to clamp or unclamp the support 4.

It will be observed that any two of the flanges I6 and the corresponding ears I8 constitute lugs to form a channel for the support 4. While, in the drawing I have shown a socket that affords five such channels, it will, of course, be appreciated that the number of such channels which a socket possesses will depend upon the size of the members I2 and I3, and the size of the support 4. Accordingly, the number of channels may be increased or decreased by varying the size of these members.

As previously stated, the socket 3 upon the base member I is similar in construction and operation to the socket 9 upon the shelf. The socket 3 permits the support 4 to extend vertically from the base, or at angles to the base as, for instance, shown in Fig. '7. In the form of socket shown in the drawing, these angular channels of the socket 3 provide for a projection of the support 4 to either side of the base member. However, if the socket 3 should extend longitudinally of the base, these angular channels would permit the projection of the support 4 either to the front or rear of the base. To compensate for the center of gravity of the completed structure, it may be necessary to change the location of the socket 3 with respect to the center of the base member I, and, of course, the size of the base member I itself may be varied in this connection.

Reference has been made above to the slot II in the shelf 5, which is directly above the socket 9. This slot is of importance when a design employing a plurality of shelves and sup ports is built up. In such event the slot II permits the use of an additional support, which may project upwardly from the shelf 5. An illustration of this is shown in Fig. '7 where it will be noted that a support 4' extends through the slot II and is clamped within the channel which is formed at right angles to the channel occupied by initial support 4. As also shown in this drawing, supports of different lengths may be employed, as is the case of the support 4', which is substantially twice the length of support 4 and which carries two shelf members 5 and 5".

It will be observed that my invention comprises three essential elements, a base member, a support and a shelf, and it will be appreciated that with a sufficient number of these elements a multiplicity of designs may be built up. Fig. 'I is an instance of but one of such designs which would readily suggest itself. In addition to those angles of the support 4 which are shown in the drawing, it will be noted that the sockets 3 and 9 provide channels whereby the supports may extend horizontally. Also, the shelves themselves may be either horizontally or angularly disposed.

It is believed that the advantages of my invention are readily apparent. The designs that may be assembled will arrest the attention of persons, not only by virtue of the uniqueness thereof, but also in view of the attractiveness of the individual elements. The device may be economically manufactured, and may be easily assembled. If desired, various color schemes may be employed to further attract the attention of persons. The shelves afford ample support for the articles to be displayed, and present such articles so that they may be readily inspected.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this is merely by way of example, and that I am not to be limited thereto. The various modifications made in the specific structure were disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention, which is to be determined merely by the breadth of the appended claims.

' I claim:

1. In a display fixture, a shelf and a socket mounted upon its under surface, said socket comprising a plurality of channels angularly disposed with respect to each other but lying in the same plane which is perpendicular to the shelf, each channel adapted to receive a support member, a slot in the shelf above the socket to permit a support to extend from a channel upwardly through the shelf, and means for securely clamping supports within the channels.

2. In a display fixture, a support and a shelf, a socket mounted upon the under surface of the shelf, said socket comprising a pair of semicircular members spaced apart and parallel to each other, a plurality of oppositely disposed flanges spaced about the periphery of the members, lugs upon one of the members located inwardly and radially from the flanges, the flanges and lugs forming a plurality of channels adapted to receive the support, a slot in the shelf above the socket to permit the support extending through the shelf and into the socket, and means for securing the support within one of the socket channels.

3. In a display fixture, a support and a shelf, a socket mounted on the shelf, said socket comprising a pair of spaced and parallel members, and lugs upon the spaced members forming a channel to receive one end of the support.

4. In a display fixture, a base, a support and a shelf, a socket mounted on the shelf and a similar socket mounted on the base, said sockets each comprising a pair of spaced parallel members, and lugs upon the spaced members forming a plurality of channels to receive the respective ends of the support.

5. In a display fixture, a support and a shelf, a socket mounted on the shelf, said socket comprising a pair of spaced and parallel members and means intermediate the spaced members forming a plurality of channels adapted to receive the support, said shelf being provided with a slot disposed opposite the socket.

6. A display fixture comprising a base, a support and a shelf, a socket mounted on the upper side of the base and a socket mounted on the under side of the shelf, said sockets each comprising a pair of spaced and parallel members, and lugs upon the spaced members forming a plurality of channels adapted to receive the support.

7. A display fixture comprising a base, a support, and a shelf, a socket for the support mounted on the base and a socket for the support mounted on the shelf, said sockets each comprising a pair of spaced and parallel members, and groups of aligned lugs upon the spaced members which form a plurality of channels to receive the support.

8. In a display fixture, a support and a shelf, a socket mounted on the shelf, said socket com prising a pair of spaced and parallel members, and means intermediate the parallel members forming a plurality of channels adapted to receive one end of the support.

LE ROY L. TUTHILL. 

